Gotosearches.com virus (Easy Removal Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Gotosearches.com virus Removal Guide
What is Gotosearches.com virus?
Why I can’t remove Gotosearches.com from my browser?
Gotosearches.com virus appears to be published by Elex do Brasil Participações Ltda. Although it is not a malicious application, security experts name it as potentially unwanted program (PUP) that shouldn’t stay on the computer for long. This program is made to change homepage settings[1] in all main web browsers and set Gotosearches.com as a new tab page (and also homepage) address. This URL points to a search engine that looks suspicious. What is more, we have opened website’s Terms and Conditions[2] page and discovered that Elex do Brasil Participações admits to be integrating links for third-party websites, applications, advertisements into the website, which means that the vast of search results generated by GoToSearches might be sponsored[3]. The company also claims that it doesn’t endorse content of third-party websites that it includes links to, so better be careful! Such websites commonly appear to be dangerous. Sometimes, they hide malicious links in them, or suggest installing unpleasant ad-supported applications or browser toolbars that simply diminish the quality of browsing or make computer programs lag.
If this suspicious URL crowned itself as the default page and search engine in your Internet browsers, you shouldn’t ignore it. It means that a few suspicious browser extensions could find a way to your system unnoticed, the same can be said about a few suspicious applications. Therefore, we suggest you quickly scan the system with FortectIntego or similar software to find out what spyware or malware programs are hiding their presence. Using anti-spyware software is the best way to remove Gotosearches.com redirect virus, but if you believe that you can uninstall this browser hijacker manually, we highly recommend using Gotosearches.com removal instructions that we have prepared.
How can I stop browser hijackers before they enter my computer system?
Browser hijackers like Gotosearches.com hijack the system when installed along with other free programs. Therefore, you should be attentive and carefully select proper installation settings everytime you launch a program’s setup. Information written in fine print[4] is very important, and you can usually find some info written behind Default or Standard settings. This information frequently discloses what third-party programs will be installed along with your download. These programs typically are useless ad-supported utilities that you definitely do not need in your computer system. To install your chosen program without these additions, choose Custom or Advanced installation settings and deselect these extra programs. Repeat this step every time you download a piece of software from the Internet, and you will keep the majority of PUPs away from your device.
How to remove Gotosearches.com from my browser?
If you do not know how to remove Gotosearches.com virus, you should read some information about browser hijackers to understand better how they operate[5]. You can also use this detailed Gotosearches.com removal guide, which is provided down below. Speaking about removal methods, we must say that manual removal option is a good choice, but automatic removal method is an even better choice. Using anti-spyware program can help you to clean your computer much faster and remove all spyware and malware programs from the system at once.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Gotosearches.com virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
First of all, your system might contain programs associated with this browser hijacker. You might also find some programs that initiate other unpleasant activities, for example, display annoying pop-up ads. Therefore, you are advised to check these instructions and remove unwanted programs from the system.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data…
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Chrome Browser is one of web browsers that are vulnerable to browser hijacking. We suggest you check these instructions out – we are sure that you will find them helpful.
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Gotosearches.com registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting stealing programs
Protect your privacy – employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
- ^ Michael King. How to Change Your Web Browser Home Page. PCWorld - News, tips and reviews from the experts on PCs, Windows, and more.
- ^ Terms of service. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.
- ^ Daniel C. Fain, Jan O. Pedersen. Definition. Google Scholar: Sponsored Search: a Brief History.
- ^ Fine Print. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.
- ^ Information about browser hijacker and removal instructions. NoVirus. Website that helps computer users remove malware.